16 August 2013

Supermarkets, VOSA and Flash

Just a few quick notes today as time is limited:

As a follow up to the Free Tesco and Asda Shopper buses it seems that the new operator is Carmel Coaches! There is nothing on their web site to suggest this although several comments have been left on the blog to say that they are. They already operate Tesco services in Exeter so this kind of work wont be new to them.

Tesco apparently have this notice up:

"Due to unforeseen circumstances we are not currently operating our free weekly bus service. Customers requiring help getting to our local store should ring 0845 6779545. Our staff will be happy to help make alternative transport arrangements for disabled customers or provide details of alternative bus services to use. Tesco would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."

The Asda service is said to be starting on Monday. I shall have a check at the store shortly to see if anything has been posted there.


We have a batch of service changes for Plymouth Citybus registered on VOSA yesterday which I present here without comment for now:

  • PH0000135/7 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade Stop A14 and SOUTHWAY given service number 40/40A/41 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.
  • PH0000135/8 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between TAMERTON FOLIOT and ROYAL PARADE given service number 42/42A/42B/42X effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/9 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and PLYMOUTH Royal Parade given service number 43/143/43A/43B effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/10 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH, ROYAL PARADE and WHITLEIGH given service number 44/44A effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.
  • PH0000135/42 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH Royal Parade and HAM Merrivale Road given service number 35 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/71 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Saltash, Pillmere and Derriford Hospital given service number 30 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.
  • PH0000135/76 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between ROYAL PARADE and DERRIFORD HOSPITAL given service number 29/29D effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/77 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE and PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE given service number 43A effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/78 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE and HOLLY PARK given service number 43B/78 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/86 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Plymouth, Royal Parade given service number 25 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
  • PH0000135/126 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA
    • Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Plymouth, Royal Parade given service number 62 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable
    • PH0000135/148 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

      • Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth, Royal Parade and Plymouth, Royal Parade given service number 33/33A effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.
    • PH0000135/149 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

      • Variation Accepted: Operating between Plymouth Royal Parade and Travistock Bus Station given service number F1 effective from 05-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.
    • PH0000135/150 - PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD, MILEHOUSE, MILEHOUSE ROAD, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA

      • Variation Accepted: Operating between Royal Parade and Torpoint HMS Raleigh given service number 32 effective from 06-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

It seems that the route branding promised for the new Tavistock service is “BlueFlash” This seems to open the way for other routes to get the colour treatment. At least some of the Enviros at Milehouse have received Red Flash branding – and word is that they are very smart!

15 comments:

  1. The 40/41 are to be merged with the 43 and will operate inbound via North Hill, Charles Street opp. Drake Circus, around Charles Cross Roundabout, along the Viaduct to A4 for the 43, hence a route change for 40/41 and timetable change for the 43.

    The 44/A are to become all 44s with a one-way loop round Whitleigh and will decrease in frequency to every 15 minutes. This is what was unveiled on the Chatterbus to Southway/Whitleigh last week.

    Interesting how it says for one of them Service No. 62 - does this mean the 61/62 is back rather than the stupidly confusing 61/61A? Time will tell.

    Yes, the Tavistock buses are being branded as 'BlueFlash' with the 21/21A Enviros having the usual generic crap like 'Every 10 minutes Plympton City Centre Devonport Barne Barton' etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Enviros on the 21 21A are not just having the "usual generic crap" At least one is in full Red Flash livery for the route and looks stunning.
      I believe that some of the new ones at Milehouse will be repainted Blue Flash as the Tavistock ones wont be here in time for the new route.

      Delete
  2. I thought 'chatterbus' was out and about in Southway and Whitleigh to listen to customer views recently? Sounds like they listened then went off and registered what Citybus wanted to do anyway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You've hit the nail exactly on the head there - that's exactly what they've done!

      Delete
  3. "Operating between PLYMOUTH ROYAL PARADE and HOLLY PARK given service number 43B/78."

    78? Really?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Something interesting on the VOSA page for the 30:

    https://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=15240&txtLicenceNo=PH0000135&cboRegNoFilter=PH0000135/71

    Service Number(s) 30
    Start Point Saltash, Pillmere
    Finish Point Derriford Hospital
    ***Via LEIGHAM ESTOVER THORNBURY***
    Service Type Normal Stopping
    Date Received 09-AUG-2013
    Effective Date 06-OCT-2013

    Maybe extending to Asda?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats more likely an historic hangover. The registration for this route goes back to December 2004 when it was the 52 Plympton - Derriford - Saltash. These via points could just be left over in the system as the route has evolved. I could be wrong but they wont be going to Derriford from Saltash via Estover!

      Delete
    2. Well spotted - time will tell eh!

      Delete
  5. What are they doing with the 43A and 30?

    ReplyDelete
  6. mike hudson pctpg16 August 2013 at 20:33

    tom, one of the enviro's has been resprayed in 'city college blue' which will be the new colour for tavistock. I have seen a finished and registered 21/21a e400. it looks absolutely amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. So basically citybus are creeping through what they did not do last time because of customer feedback!!! The 40/41 being linked to 43 etc, Whitleigh frequency cut to free up capacity to tavi and torpoint... Will Tavi service operate Mutley or the faster Milehouse route ??? I suspect some of the other changes could be reduction in frequency as well, maybe 61 and 62 both 15 minute frequency instead of combined 10, so as to free capacity for the waste of time Blue Flash etc!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. So far, at least 2 of the new enviro 400s are in Red Flash for the 21, and there is one in the spray shop blue. Im guess they will do 4 red and 4 blue, but thats just a logical guess!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would question the logic of Citybus fast route Plymouth to Tavistock...Yes great for those travelling between those 2 points.... but from my experience the First service picks up a substantial % of its customers travelling locally from say Yelverton to Horrabridge etc, Citybus will lose out on most of this, thus First will stay well in control on this route I would say! Is Citybus going Milehouse or Mutley route??? May I take this opportunity to wish all at First Devon and Cornwall all the best during the upcoming onslaught... PLYMOUTH needs you!

    Encouraging though that they are now bringing out timetables with all services to Derriford in, I would say they lost customers here who could not be bothered with looking through seperate 15 and 84/86 timetables compared to the citybus 42!!!

    Also on a seperate note I have been signed up for alerts from First for about 3 years...suddenly in the last few days I have actually started receiving emails from FDC...a good sign as well I'd say!! Little things like communication will go a long way!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with that to a point. There will be some passengers who will not benefit from the Citybus service but I know a lot will. They will certainly be keen to try it out at least so First may see a big dip unless they come out fighting with fares etc. as they do not seem to be making any route changes at all. And Yes - Plymouth does need a strong First (or someone else) in competition with Citybus.

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